RAF junior technician Kevin Turner, from Kidderminster, is stationed on a US base in Qatar preparing bombs for loading into the fighter planes destined for Saddam's military installations, government buildings and palaces.

Unlike those on the frontline the 23-year-old is able to keep in touch with his family back home and sister Karen Rundle, of Avocet Drive, said he was retaining his sense of humour. Kevin Turner.

She added: "He was on military manoeuvres in Kuwait last year from July until November and has made a lot of friends out there.

"The last time we heard from him was on Mother's Day."

Kevin joined the RAF's Tactical Arms Support Squadron after leaving Hagley RC High School.

He is a former pupil of St Ambrose School, and was a member of the air cadets based at the TA Centre, Kidderminster.

Karen, whose three-year-old daughter, Megan, is Kevin's god-daughter, said it was always his ambition to join the RAF.

His brother Paul is a soldier in the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters and is about to start a tour of duty in Northern Ireland.

Kevin is based at RAF Marham in East Anglia. He lives with his mother, Ellen Franklin, at Yellow Hammer Court, Kidderminster.